by guest blogger and New York writer Seanan Forbes; photo by Kent Miller:

Koren Grieveson took Best Chef: Great Lakes. That's one for Avec, 615 W. Randolph. Grieveson is "thrilled ... nervous, excited." She wishes she had more planned to say. One gets the sense that, of all she'd expected, the last was the possibility that she might win.

She was seated so far in the back that the Award presenters thought she wasn't in the house. She was. She just had an intimidating 100-yard walk to the stage.

"Now, I join my crew and celebrate, have a few more glasses of Champagne and get back to work," she said.

Get back to work. And that's what it's all about.